Apprentices

Every foal was introduced to the area in the Organization where they will stay. It’s called the Neighborhood, filled with stone houses where each candidate will stay in separately. Nightmare gave them all enough time to get settled into their new homes. Each house had the codenames of each candidate. While inside, they each found a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom with a small single bed complete with cover and pillow. There was also a basement in each one, but only some were able to find them.

Later on, after an hour since they were allowed to see their houses, everypony felt a small buzz on their collars. They realized that meant that they were being summoned. They all stood at the doorway of each house, waiting for Nightmare’s orders.

“Candidates, attention!” Nightmare’s voice rang out. “You have been put into the warrior state. Your task is to protect this Organization, kill, and when you’re ready, Turn yourself and others. Show no mercy once you’re one of us. Do us proud. As for the collars, don’t even ask when you can take them off. I’ll remove them myself when I feel like it. You’ll have many lessons before deciding you’re worthy and ready to become a full Apprentice. If you fail, you’re good as dead” Nightmare then threw a knife at Babs Seed, cutting her.

“Oww” she groaned in pain as she held her cut hoof.

Nightmare just glared. “Lesson Number 1: Ignore Pain”

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Scootaloo cried out in pain as she got cut in the wing. Apparently, Nightmare teleported all candidates into a Training Room after the declaration of the lesson. Nightmare and her helpers had been testing each one for them all to ignore pain. It had been an hour since they started, and many foals were already crying. Nightmare was beginning to lose her patience.

“I said IGNORE IT!” she yelled as Bunny was thrown to the wall. Even though she could barely feel any pain, she was faking it so as to avoid them finding out about her.

Spike screamed as a bucket of cold water was poured all over him. He was shivering from the cold, but he could still notice how everypony else was doing. When he looked to Nightmare, he noticed that she was already about to explode in frustration. He had to think of something, anything! If one of them doesn’t progress soon, Nightmare may kill them all. He looked around to see how the rest of the gang was doing.

Scootaloo was groaning in pain as her trainer stabbed her in the foreleg.

Sweetie Belle was already getting scalds from being dipped in hot water for so long.

Applebloom was trying her best to run away as she was being choked.

Babs Seed was scared about how she was about to be crushed.

Bunny faked a flinch as she was electrocuted.

Bunny, of course! Spike thought as the trainer got ready for another test on Bunny.

As Bunny was dragged to be thrown to the wall again, she looked to Spike’s direction. The dragon pointed to Nightmare. The alien turned to the side to see Nightmare about to lose her temper. She looked back at Spike, as though asking for permission. Spike nodded; they had to make Nightmare happy.

Bunny was thrown to the wall, but she barely made any sound of pain. She just shut her eyes tightly, before opening them again. The trainer was surprised to see the progress.

“Our Queen, one of them seems to be having progress!” he called out to Nightmare.

Nightmare’s expression softened a bit. She walked over to the area of where Bunny was.

“I threw her to the wall, and she didn’t even cry” the trainer said. He and Nightmare then watched as Bunny helped herself get up. Sure, she was on all fours, but that was progress.

Nightmare smiled and nodded. “Finally, a candidate that’s doing better. Nice job”

Bunny took a deep breath before looking back at Spike. The dragon nodded with a smile.

Bunny turned her attention back to Nightmare when she was tapped on the shoulder. “What do you call yourself?”

“Brazy, I’m called Brazy” Bunny said her codename.

“Brazy, good choice. Well, Brazy, you’ve changed my mind. I was about to go nuts and kill everypony here, but when you finally got the hang of it, I decided to let them live. I haven’t seen something like this since Pinkamena, or Butchershy, or the rest of their group”

Bunny’s expression changed. “Butchershy?”

“Her name was originally Fluttershy, and she was one of the best”

Bunny already was concerned for her Mistress. “Where is she?”

“Anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were actually related to her or something like that. If you keep this up, I may consider removing your Tracking Collar. Who knows? Maybe you may be one of the first to Turn. Keep up the good work”

Bunny looked back to Spike, then to the rest of the gang. They all nodded because they knew what they were to do. They have to survive this Organization, and find their friends.